Journal-box closure



J. S. TAWRESEY JOURNAL BOX CLOSURE Filed July 29 Jan 6, 1931.

. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet lNVENTbR z/on Jam/may 7% J ATTORNEY Jan 6, 1931.J, s r w s 1,787,459

JOURNAL BOX CLOSURE Filed ly 29, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v v iJJNVENTOR w.9 mORNEY 35 portion of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the rim carry- Patented Jan. 6, 1931UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN B. TAIF BESEY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEWJERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SKAYEF BALL BEARING COMPANY, OF NECTICUTApplication filed m 29,

This invention relates to a lubricant retaining and dust excludingclosure for self-aligning bearing housings, and is particularlyadaptable for use as a journal box closure in 5 railway trucks whereinthe box so houses a self-aligning hearing as to permit a limited lateralmovement of the box or axial movement of the journal, such relativemovement being independent of the aligning movement.

In the preferred form of the invention the box is closed at .its inneror wheel side by a removable annular plate which carries a rim formedwith a spherical face engaging a similar face formed on a collar carriedby the! 1 journal;the spherical surface being concentric'with the centerabout which the bearing aligns. The ring of which the rim forms a parthas a sliding fit in the hub of the plate to provide for lateralmovement as the car weaves on the axle. Springs are preferably employedfor keeping the spherical surfaces in close contact. The various detailsof construction and the lubrication features will be described in thebody of the specification.

In the drawings accompanying this specification one practicableembodiment of the invention is illustrated, in which drawings Figure Ishows the broken away journal end of a railway car axle and a journalbox, and self-aligning antifriction bearing shown in vertical section;my invention as shown applied to this box also being in verticalsection? Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail'illustration of a ing ringdetached from the closure plate.

Fig. 4" is a section taken at about the plane of the line 4,4 of Fig. 3and j Fi .6 is a face view of the ring illustrated in Fig. 3, the,section of Fig. 3 ing illustrated on Fig. by the dotted line 3-3.

In the drawings, one end only of car axle, 7, is illustrated. Thejournals, 8, the bearings, and associated parts are assumed to besubstantiall the same at both ends of the axle. In t e presentillustration the inner ring, 9, of self-aligning roller bearing is shownmounted upon the journals, 8, by the interpositioniof a taper adaptersleeve, 10,

Y thrust upon a predetermined amount of axial H ARTFOBD, CONNECTICUT, ACORPOBATION OI CON JOURNAL-BOX CLOSURE 1825. Serial No. 46,722..

which is held in place by means of a suitable of the ring, 11, andforcing this ring against "a suitable shoulder, 13, formed on a ring,14,

presently to be described in more detail, but for the present it will bestated to have a sufiicientlysnug fit upon the-inner end of the journal,8, and to engage the shoulder, 15, formed on the axle by, the reductionof the journal portion. Two sets or rows ofrollers, 16, are shown.mounted upon the inner ring, 9, of the bearing and engaging thespherical track face, 17, formed on the outer ring, 18, which outer ringis shown. as having a substantial cylindrical outer perimeter mounted inthe cylindrical bore, 19, of the journal box, 20, which constitutes 'thehousing for the bearing and the working parts of the in vention.

The box or housing at each end is intended. to be mounted on or securedto a truck frame in some suitable or well known manner and to be somounted that initially there is a small amount of clearance, 21, betweenthe outer end of each antifriction bearing ring, 18, and a suitableshoulder, preferably a face formed upon an in wardl directed flange, 22,cast with the box. he outer bearing ring, 18, is so mounted in the bore,19, that it may move therein in a direction laterally of the box andaxially of the journal and axle. This shoulder is for the purpose ofassumingmovement of, the axle or lateral weaving of the truck or carbody.

' The position of the center of the spherical surface, 17 is indicatedby the reference character, 23. The center point remains, of course,substantially fixed in respect of the journal during self-alignment andalso during axial adjustment of the bearing, as this moves in thehousing with the journal.

The self-aligning hearing as such and the lateral adjustment of thebearing as such are well known features yet these parts have beendescribed in detail because of the fact that my invention articularlyrelates to a closure for, the insi e end of the box, which has anadjustable or flexible rim designed for adjusting itself by these twomovementsself-aligning and laterally of the box in re spect of thejournal. In the illustrated form ofcarrying out my invention I provide a.'closure plate, 25, secured to the box in some suitable manner, forinstance, by means of stud bolts and nuts, 26. The plate is providedwith a central opening having-a substantially cylindrical bore, 27,surrounding the journal, and in the illustration located outwardly of aportion of the member, 14.

This member, 14, is shown formed with a "spherical face, ,28, having itscenter at 23.

The flexible rim, 29, is shown also having a In effect this rim and, thejournal may be respherical face, 30, engaging the face, 29.

garded as being formed with faces meeting on a spherical surfaceconcentric with the center about which the bearing aligns .or

upon which-the journal aligns within the The rim. 29, is kept inengagement with the'journal, or the member, 14,'interposed between itand the journal by spring means,

' there being shown inthe present instance a plurality of springs, 31,for this purpose (five Y in the illustration) the plate, 25, beingformed with that number of spring pockets, 32, in

which coiled compress on springs 33, are mounted and engaging suitableiugs, formed on the rim member, 29. This rim member is annular and isshown formed with laterally of the closure plate and box.

a body portion, 35, formed to fit the bore, 27, of' the clpsure platewithin which it has a J certain amount of movement in a directionaxially of the journalor substantially sofli d 1s lateral movement is toaccommodate the weave. and the spherical faces to accommodate theself-alignment. The closure plate, a 25,, and the rim member, 29, areshown preferably so formed and mounted that one of the spring pockets,32, is in the upper pora the axis of the journal. The lower portion tionof the" structure and substantially above of the plate is shown carryinga bolt, 36, engaging a hole in a lug, 37 dependant fi'orn the rimmember, 29. This is for the purpose of preventing rotation ormisplacement of the rim member relatively to the closure plate. Theuppermost lug, 34, is shown somewhat wider than the others and webs, 3B,

are shown connecting its ends" to the rim,"

29, thereby forming a reservoir located in' position to receive\the'splash of lubricant from the rollers. A du ct, 39, is shown runningfrom the bottom of this reservoir and communicating with a duct, 41,having two arms extending downwardly and inwardly along the innersurface of the member, 29, for carrying the oil or other lubricant inposition to lubricate the spherical surface of these parts which havenot only aligning .bore and havi I maniac movement, but also a relativerotary movement. J Q The uppermost spring housing, 32, is also locatedin position to receive spatters of lubricant from the bearing and thishousing is shown having: an opening, 42, located in po sit-ion tocommunicate with a circumferential groove, 43, formed in the bodyportion, 35, of the rim member. This groove is for the purpose ofsupplying lubricant to the meet-' Eizrg faces between the p,ort ion,'35,and bore :Although but one embodiment of the in-' I ventlon has beenillustrated, which at the present time is the preferred form of con:struction, it is apparent that various changes in detail may be made asoccasion may dein such bore havingean annular rim, the said rim' andjournal formed with faces meeting on a spherica surface concentric withthe axis u on which the bea aligns means carried y the plate for l iblding the.

rim member from rotation, the closure plate being formed with aplurality of sprin pockets, one of these pocketsbeing located adjacentthe upper portion of the rim and in position to receive spatters of oilfrom the bearing, a circumferential duct formed in the outer perimeterof the rim and a passageway'from the said spring pocket communithe saidfaces in engagement.

2. The combination with a horizontally disposed. journal,- of aselfaligningantifricati bearing upon the ournaland mounte in thehousing; a 010- sure comprising a plate provided with a bore surroundingthe journal,.a member having a body mounteifior axial movement in suchan annular rim, the said rim a housing, and

and journal beingformed with faces meetingon a spherical surfaceconcentric with the axis upon which the bearingaligns, and means carriedby the plate for holding the rim member .fromrotation, the upper portionof the rimmember being forme wit an oil reservoir bpen to the .splashfrom the bearing and also having a pair of 'ducts leadingfdownwardly'and inwardly. therefrom upon the respective sides and open to the saidspherical meeting faces, the closure plate being formed with a springpocket located adjacent the upper portion of the rim and in position toreceive spotters of oil 105 eating with the duct, and springs mthevarlous pockets for pressing upon the rim to'hold Y yhaving a boresurounding thejournal, a

g from rotation, and springs disposed between H20 the rim being formedwith an 011 reservoir 25 Signed at the city of New ork, N. Y., thismember having a body mounted for axial movement in such bore and-havingan annular rim, the rim and journal being formed with faces meeting on aspherical surface -concentric with :the axis upon which the bearingaligns, means for holding the rim the rim and closure plate for holdingthe said faces in engagement,' the upper portion of open to the splashfrom the bearing, and a pair of ducts leading downwardly and in-- wardlytherefrom upon the respective sides and open to the said meetin faces.

twenty-seventh day of July, 1925.

JOHN S. TAWRESEY.

